FINANCIAL AID

- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Student Aid Report (SAR)

General Questions

1. When should I apply for Financial Aid for the following school year?
   You should apply as soon after January 1st as possible, after you and your parents have completed your federal income tax returns.
   
   

2. What deadline dates do I need to remember?
   Cal grant deadline is March 2nd however you may continue to apply for Federal Aid at Mt. Sac through the end of the academic year provided you are still enrolled.
   
   
3. What are the office hours for the Financial Aid Office?
   Office hours are 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Mon - Thurs., and 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on Fridays. These hours are subject to change.
   
   
4. If I am enrolled at two colleges, can I receive aid at both colleges?
   NO, you cannot receive aid at more than one college for the same enrollment period.
   
   
5. Is Financial Aid available only to poor people?
   No. Financial Aid is intended both to remove financial barriers for families who cannot afford the cost of an education beyond high school and to fill the gap for families who can afford only part of the cost. Some loans and scholarships are available regardless of "need".
   
   
6. What if I don't have a Social Security number or don't want to report it on the FAFSA?
   It is necessary to provide your Social Security number on the FAFSA. If you do not yet have a number, you should contact your Social Security Administration office to obtain one. It is required before you can be considered for any Federal student aid program. The FAFSA will be returned unprocessed if the student's Social Security number is blank.
   
   
7. I plan to go to college half time. Will that lessen my chance for aid?
   Almost all funds are available to students who attend college at least half time. Some institutions, however, give preference to full-time students. Some programs are available for less than half-time attendance.
   
   
8. My neighbor and I both applied for financial aid at the same college. Why did she get more aid then I did when they've got a bigger house than ours and their parents make more money than mine?
   The circumstances in your neighbor's family may be different than they appear, and home equity is not used to determine eligibility for Federal Aid. What doesn't necessarily show are other factors, such as some debts or number in college, which affects the computation of the family contribution.
   
   
9. What happens if I purposely provide inaccurate information and I'm caught?
   If you use the FAFSA to apply for Federal student aid funds and provide false information, you are subject to fines and/or imprisonment under the U.S. Criminal Code. State and local laws may also apply in such cases.
   
   
10. I don't feel it is the college's right to request my U.S. tax forms. What happens if I don't submit them?
    If you fail to comply with a request for U.S. tax forms, the college will probably discontinue processing your application for aid.
    
    
11. Must I be accepted for admission before I apply for Financial Aid? Must I be admitted before I receive aid?
    You may apply for financial aid at the same time you apply for admission. Many colleges require that you be admitted before they offer aid. However, you must actually enroll in college before you receive any funds.
    
    
12. Do I have to apply for Financial Aid each year?
    Yes. Your financial situation must be reassessed each year. However, after the first time you apply for financial aid, you probably will be sent a Renewal FAFSA that will ask you to answer some questions again and recheck the answers to others.

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1. Is the FAFSA the only aid application I must fill out?
   The FAFSA is the only form you need to complete to apply for Federal Student aid funds. Some colleges and State grant agencies may require supplemental data for awarding institutional and state funds. Any supplemental data must be collected on a separate form(s). You will not be charged a fee for processing and reporting data from the FAFSA but if you file a supplemental form, you may be charged a fee for processing and reporting data from it.
   
   
2. How do I Apply?
   Apply online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Applying online will reduce the errors through edit checks.
   
   
3. Who can help me with questions about the application?
   Financial Aid Seminars are available at most colleges, check with the Financial Aid office for availability, dates and times.

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1. How do I make corrections?
   Use your SAR to correct information you submitted on your original FAFSA. Check with the college before you send the SAR back to processor to confirm this is the action they recommend. Many colleges can process corrections for the students electronically. If filed on the web, you may make corrections electronically.
   
   
2. I lost my SAR. How can I get another one?
   To request a duplicate SAR, call: 1-319-337-5665.

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